The Co-op, one of the UK’s biggest food retailers, with over 2,500 food stores nationwide, sought to reduce operational costs and enhance its environmental footprint across several sites. As part of the retail giant’s commitment to become a net-zero business, Co-op established a solar energy framework to try and secure long-term savings – aligning with its corporate social responsibility (CSR) goals and safeguarding against fluctuating energy prices.
Project Details
The Co-op
Delivering solar installations across a portfolio of diverse sites presents several logistical complexities. And with locations spanning the UK, each site comes with its own structural, regulatory, and operational constraints that need to be considered.
Minimising disruption to day-to-day retail operations while ensuring a consistent and efficient rollout schedule is essential to meeting project timelines and maintaining business continuity.
Co-op looked for a trusted partner capable of delivering a large-scale solar energy solution that was both cost-effective and tailored to the specific needs of each location.
Tailored solar PV solution across all sites
Minimal disruption during installation process
Fully designed, funded and managed rooftop solar PV project
The Solution
Following a competitive tender process, Co-op appointed Shawton Energy to one of its frameworks to support the rollout of large-scale rooftop solar installations across its UK estate.
Shawton Energy was selected based on its proven expertise in managing complex, multi-site solar projects, as well as its professional approach and ability to offer an end-to-end, turnkey solar solution.
Working alongside delivery partner Sol PV, Shawton Energy will design, develop, fund, and manage rooftop solar PV systems at key Co-op locations through its Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) model.
This approach allows Co-op, one of the UK’s largest retailers in the UK, to benefit from clean onsite energy generation without the need for upfront capital investment.
Could your business benefit from solar energy?
“The Co-op has a robust Climate Plan with both short-term and long-term objectives to reduce its emissions and become more sustainable
By generating their own renewable energy on site, and with Shawton Energy’s support, the Co-op will benefit from greater environmental efficiencies and protection against energy market volatility.
We are incredibly proud to be supporting the Co-op on this project, and this appointment further reinforces our expertise in delivering corporate renewable energy solutions.”
Jamie Shaw, CEO of Shawton Energy
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